Presentation of Harvest gifts

Traditionally at Harvest Festival services there is a wonderful display of fresh fruit and vegetables and in many churches members of the congregation bring bags of food to donate to the poor. In recent years these bags have contained packaged food, which may be of greater value to needy members of the community. 

In order to draw attention to the source of our food, we recommend that fresh fruit and vegetables are on display in the church and that some are presented in a short celebration, during which the following words may be used. 

Minister: We show our gratitude to God for food, flowers and water. 

The gift of flowers is brought forward.

Minister: We bring the gift of food, and give thanks to God.

ALL: O Lord, who has blessed us with abundance of food: 
we offer thanks for our prosperity, 
for the skill and perseverance of the farmer, 
and for gifts of fertility and growth. 
We pray that you will so implant your word in us, 
that our faith may grow to full maturity, 
and our lives bring forth much fruit in good works.

The gift of flowers is brought forward.

Minister: We bring this gift of flowers, and give thanks to God.

ALL: O Lord, the Creator of all beautiful things: 
we offer thanks for the beauty of flowers 
in park and garden and hedgerow. 
Grant us also so to manifest your glory 
that the desert places of life may blossom as the rose.

 The gift of water is brought forward.

Minister : We bring this gift of water, and give thanks to God.

ALL: O Lord, whose spirit did brood over the great deep, 
and divide the waters from the waters: 
we thank thee for the gift of water, 
refreshing, vitalizing, cleansing. 
Grant that we, who are baptised by water and the spirit, 
may be so cleansed and renewed 
as to become a spring of water, welling up to salvation.

Other signs of caring for God’s world could be held up or presented to represent farming (grain and bread; grapes and wine; or seeds for the future), energy (a solar panel or energy efficient light bulb, materials (an empty aluminium drink can for recycling; a clothing item that has been reused).